Pope John Paul II 1920-2005

I wrote this out in my head earlier but I couldn't get to the computer to type it out until now.

One of the greatest world leaders of the last century died today, and I wonder if anyone noticed. I was at Johnston Hall finishing my work with the paper when the news came on the Pope John Paul II had died. I had expected the earth to shake, the sky to go black and silence to fall over the land. But when I got outside the sun was still shining in a bright blue sky spotted with puffy white clouds. People were everywhere, living their lives, playing Frisbee, going to and from the library. The only sign that anything was different from every other moment of every other day was one lonely bell tolling slowing from the tower of Johnston Hall. I thought the whole world was rather unceremoniously happy.

But maybe that's how is was supposed to be. Maybe God was reminding me that the Pope's life was a reason for celebration, not sorrow. I think it was Theresa of Lisieux who said she wasn't afraid of death because in Heaven she would be able to pray for her loved ones even more. I get the feeling that's how John Paul felt as his body began to weaken over the last few days.


Karol Wojtyla pray for us.

1 comments on this foolish article:

Kathleen said...

I was talking to one of my friends and said that it was sad for us that JPII was dead but that it was happy for him. My friend took a different approach, however, and said that it was happy for us too because now we have a powerful new intercessor in Heaven who can do more good now than he's ever been able to do before! So that made me smile when I thought about it! But I'm still sad because the Pope was my best friend. (Or would be if I actually met him.) Please pray for our Church and for our next Holy Father. Tough act to follow. But all is in God's omnipotent hands.